The cat’s out of the bag.
Jaguar’s two-door F-Type convertible defines awe-inspiring; both visually and performance wise.
The all-new F-Type, debuted as a convertible roadster in the 2013 model year, adding a spicy hard-top coupe in 2014. Both come with three trim level choices. Its high, long hood and upward positioned side belt line create a vehicle ready to pounce at any moment, even when parked perfectly still. When stalking the roadways, performance-oriented rear-drive and a supercharged engine pave the way for zero to 60 in 4.2 seconds
Maximizing the benefits of lighter-weight aluminum and structural alloys continue as Jaguar Hallmarks; helping F-Type shed unwanted pounds. With all-aluminum sports-tuned double wishbone front and rear suspension bracing the four corners, front-rear weight distribution gets maximized, resulting in five-star handling.
Tata Motors of India purchased British automakers Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford Motor Co. during the spring of 2008 during the Blue Oval Company’s major renovation phase. Ford first took its controlling interest in Jaguar in 1989.
While not data or fact driven, F-Type certainly created a buzz during its week stay. Several neighbors sauntered by the driveway, posing questions and smiling every step of the way. This Jag also attracts a multi-generational audience. While cruising tree-lined streets of DuPage County, the F-Type founds itself behind a slow-moving quintessentially long yellow school bus. A flock of grade schoolers couldn’t resist snapping quick shots with their standard issue cell phones out the back window.
A trio of F-Type convertible trims include base, V-6 S and V-8 S. When behind the wheel, driver and shot-gun passenger situate rather close to the ground. The three-spoke steering wheel, in true race-car form, includes a flat bottom rather than a complete circle and secondary audio function push buttons along with cruise control operations on the face.
While seat count is limited at two, several engine variations give pause to just how fast this cat pounces the pavement. Both V-6 models come standard with a 3.0-liter supercharged V-6 cranking out 340 horsepower promising speeds of zero to 60 in 5.1 seconds. The tuned up V-6 S generates 380 horses shaving three-tenths of a second off the zero-to-60 time estimate. Our tester employed the V-8, with a 5.0-liter V-8 supercharger cranking 495 horses motivated traveling from zero-to-60 in the aforementioned 4.2 seconds. A supercharger connects to the engine helping increase horsepower by delivering highly pressurized air during the intake stroke.
All three engines work in tandem with an eight-speed “Quickshift” automatic transmission, utilizing steering-wheel-mounted or floor-mounted shifters for personalizing shift points sans a foot clutch. The floor gear shift fits into the right-hand’s grip like a joy stick from a 1990s arcade game. A thumb-operated top push button orders the transmission into ‘park,’ while a small recessing trigger-finger bar senses reverse and drive. Potent V-8s accentuate the joy of a shiftable automatic transmission and F-Type is no exception with spirited cornering and quick starts kicked up a notch.
F-Type encompasses all human senses, especially sound. Throaty, rumbling exhaust notes burst forth when calling the engine to life via a push of a circular, golden, push-button start, enhanced by an ‘Active Exhaust System’ standard in the V-8 S and V-6 S. Electronically controlled bypass valves in the exhaust’s rear section open under hard acceleration creating a non-mistakable roar. At cruising speeds, these valves close.
As with fine imported European wines, a spin the in F-Type convertible carries a cost premium. Starting price for the Base 3.0-liter V-6 checks in at $69,000. Move up to our bright-red V-8 S and the tag increases to $92,000. That’s before a V-8 performance package (red brake calipers, performance seats- $2,950), Vision package (blind spot monitoring, adaptive front lighting- $2,100) and stand-alone options including Meridian performance audio sound system ($1,200), heated seats and wheels ($600), wind deflector ($200), upgraded metallic paint ($1,500), Satellite radio ($450), upgraded interior leather ($1,925) and $895 destination charge which tipped the scales above the $100,000 plateau to $103,820.
A small, but passionate cluster of rivals include Chevrolet’s masterfully executed Corvette Stingray convertible, revamped for 2014. This segment marvel sets the pace with a starting price $2,000 less than Jaguar’s F-Type. Still, The F-Type convertible stacks up surprisingly well against Corvette and looks like a bargain when matched against German rivals including the Porsche 911 drop top ($102,750) and Mercedes-Benz SLK55 convertible ($81,360).
Predominantly black dashboard, doors and seats included limited brush aluminum accents and fire-red stitching along seats and doors. Guest riders commented about surprisingly plush and supportive buckets seats which included adjustable lower back lumbar support. Auxiliary and iPod ports along with a power source are found in the small, covered storage bin between the seats.
While zero to 60 engine motivation remains impressive, so too is the speed of the standard power black fabric roof with built-in glass rear window and defroster, deploying at a swift 12 seconds. The lightweight roof unlatches automatically from the windshield frame, tucking neatly behind the seats without a weight-adding tonnou cover. The soft top’s inside Thinsulate lining assists sound and temperature insulation when prone. Why not a hard-top convertible? Jaguar sensed the added weight and bulkier top-down storage challenges would diminish metrics.
Kudos to Jaguar for a well-executed instrument panel and center column; easily interpreted by tech heads and counterpart Luddites alike. A multi-function display touch screen atop the center stack serves as a backup camera feed, GPS navigation screen and audio screen. Push buttons framing the screen help select tasks at hand. Three large circular twist dials control temperature and fan speed, each with inside illumination or digital readouts detailing usage. A row of well-functioning push tabs, reminiscent of tape decks or tape recorders from a generation ago (and seemingly never out of style) control functions including air conditioning, hazard flasher along with front and rear defrosters.
The instrument panel includes two small circular analog gauges with two colorfully animated vertical bars in between monitoring fuel usage and temperature along with digital time, audio preset outside temp and gear shift indicator. Adjacent to dual cup holders is an oh-so-welcome audio volume control tactile volume-control knob. For many, not a secondary, but primary volume control. The trunk release button is conveniently found on the far left dash, up from the floor.
The low-slung exterior ‘s smooth, rounded flow take precedent over sharp corners. The F-Type’s exterior door handles keep in touch with the smooth theme. When locked, the handles tuck flush with the door. Unlock with a push of the key fob (or touch a section of the inserted handle while the key fob’s in proximity), and one end of bar-type grab handle fans out from flush, allowing fingers to tuck underneath to pull out and unlatch the door. Also flush mounted until summoned; the available rear spoiler, which also fans up when the vehicle reaches designated speeds. Headlight housing takes to the sides, runs vertically along the sloping nose. The lightweight grille-end-hinged hood, flips up with shock-absorber type assistance, easily gripable from the side fender air vent area. The V8’s hood also includes two narrow center strip vents above the engine. Prominent in the center grille is Jaguar’s circular growler cat-face logo.
The trunk volume remains unchanged with the top up or down and a rather oddly configured 6.9 cubic feet of space. Exhaust tips differ depending on the engine selected. Our V-8 tester featured four outboard-mounted exhaust outlets: two for each side. Twin center outlets adorn V-6 editions.
The fuel tank holds 19.0 gallons of premium unleaded fuel. While fuel economy maximization never became a high priority during the design stage, F-Type includes an ‘Intelligent Start/Stop’ eco-type mode, shifting the engine into a ‘pause’ when at a prolonged stop to conserve petro. Our V-8 registered 16 mpg city and 23 highway.
The British beat carries on throughout the 2014 lineup with the flagship XJ sedan, XF sedan and XK coupe. While Jaguar historically churns out sedans and coupes, expect a five-door luxury crossover soon as the Cat Company showcased a C-X17 design concept during major auto shows this past winter. Well-placed umors persist it’s close to reality. Unfortunately for patrons of the 2014 Windy City expo, the C-X17 bypassed Chicago for an appearance at Toronto’s annual auto show, which overlaps Chicago’s consumer-driven affair.
At a Glance
2012 F-Type Convertible
Price as tested: $103,820
Length: 176 inches
Width: 75.7 inches
Wheelbase: 103.2 inches
Engine: 5.0-liter V-8 supercharged
Horsepower: 495
Curb weight: 3,671 pounds
Drivetrain warranty: Five years/50,000 miles
City/Highway economy: 16 mpg city/23 mpg highway
Assembly: United Kingdom
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